The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is set to receive 1,038 contract workers over the next 12 months to address long queues and service-delivery pressures at its local offices. Minister of Social Development Dina Pule revealed this in a written parliamentary reply, stating that the agency will spend more than R242 million on the hiring of contract workers. The move aims to assist beneficiaries and improve service delivery.
The contract workers will be deployed across various provinces in South Africa, with KwaZulu-Natal receiving the largest allocation of 217 workers, followed by the Eastern Cape with 149 and Gauteng with 143. The additional workers will assist with queue management, grant applications, beneficiary queries, outstanding manual cases, grant reviews, verification, and administrative work.
The average waiting time at SASSA offices is currently 160 minutes, or about two hours and 40 minutes. However, the department has set a target of reducing this by 20% during the 2026/27 financial year. The effectiveness of the intervention will be monitored through regular operational reporting and management oversight processes.
Minister Pule also mentioned that the agency has identified staffing, operational, and technology-related gaps within its current operating model. The Agency's leadership is undertaking a comprehensive review of the operating model to assess its effectiveness, identify areas that are functioning well, and determine where improvements are required.
The deployment of contract workers is one of the measures being taken by SASSA to address service-delivery pressures. The agency has also been working to improve its services, including the replacement of SASSA gold cards and the rollout of new payment systems.
In addition to the deployment of contract workers, SASSA has been working to enhance its services through other initiatives. For instance, the agency has refuted claims of its officials' involvement in pensioner insurance scams and has implemented measures to prevent such incidents.
The hiring of contract workers and other initiatives are part of SASSA's efforts to improve its services and address the needs of its beneficiaries. The agency's leadership is committed to ensuring that beneficiaries receive the support they need in a timely and efficient manner.
Key points
- SASSA to spend R242 million on hiring 1,038 contract workers to ease service-delivery pressures.
- The contract workers will be deployed for 12 months, with KwaZulu-Natal receiving the largest allocation of 217 workers.
- The average waiting time at SASSA offices is currently 160 minutes, with a target to reduce this by 20% during the 2026/27 financial year.
